Student Retention & Institutional Friction with David Evans

1 min read

Published: 19 Mar 2026

Emma Gange

Learning Outcomes Leaders Podcast Ep 001 with David Evans hero

Welcome to episode 014 of Learning Outcomes Leaders, the higher education podcast from Genio.

When students quit out of frustration, the cause is often the institution, not the student. In this episode, David Evans, former VP at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO), shares a practical playbook for student retention. He discusses how to remove institutional friction, fund small emergency grants, and use student data to spot risk before it becomes attrition. He draws on his work at access-focused institutions including Southern Vermont College and the American University of Bulgaria.

What will you learn from this episode?

How can colleges reduce institutional friction for first-generation students?
How did a small emergency fund lift graduation rates by six percentage points at Georgia State University?
Why do students rarely give the real reason for leaving in exit surveys?
How can student data flag retention risk before it becomes attrition?
Why do some students choose 23% credit card debt over 6% federal loans?
How do you reach the students least likely to ask for help?
How does celebrating first-generation identity build belonging and persistence?

Listen to the full conversation below, or on your favorite podcast app.

Quick answers from the episode

What is institutional friction in higher education?

Institutional friction is the processes, paperwork and barriers that make it harder for students to stay enrolled. David argues it hits first-generation students hardest, because they are often the least likely to ask for help when something goes wrong.

Can a small emergency fund improve student retention?

Yes, a small emergency fund can improve student retention. David points to Georgia State University's research, which found small emergency grants lifted graduation rates by six percentage points.